The $8 million project aims to restore the museum s original 1929 architectural plan. As per officials, every structural modification the building has undergone since 1929 will be undone to recover its original appearance. The makeover will address priority areas including the roof, building structure, drainage, electrical and fire protection systems, enhanced lighting, galleries, and facilities for visitors.

Today, the museum has almost 60,000 exhibits, such as relics of local civilization, religion, fine arts, and archaeology. But there are only 14,000 articles on public display since it is not possible to accommodate them in the available space. The project includes the construction of a new three-story building on the premises of the Tollinton Market car park.

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The new and old buildings will be linked through an underground tunnel, making the museum a symbol of contemporary heritage conservation in the area," said museum spokesperson Asim Rizwan.

Authorities said that this move is also likely to boost cultural tourism and raise Pakistan s role in the conservation of South Asian heritage. The closure, although temporary, is viewed as a first step towards the preservation of precious artifacts and better tourism for the future generation.